It takes thousands of people to build a lunar spacecraft, let’s meet them and see what they do. Today: Isabel from ArianeGroup.

What is your name and your role on the European Service Module team?

My Name is Isabel Gloystein and I am the contract officer for all Propulsion Subsystem (PSS) Hardware supplied by ArianeGroup.

Orion propulstion. Credits: ESA
Orion propulstion. Credits: ESA

How long have you been involved in European Service Module’s development and what were/are your tasks?

I first got in touch with the European Service Module programme, during the propellant tank proposal phase for European Service Module-2.

At that time I was still working in the back office. Later I took over the contract officer position for the Propellant Tanks for the third European Service Module and also supported the contractual negotiation for PSS Equipment supplied by ArianeGroup Lampoldshausen.

From European Service Module-4 onwards I am the lead contractual officer for all PSS hardware supplied by ArianeGroup.

What is your educational background/prior work experience? How did you come to work on the European Service Module?

I am a business lawyer with a post-graduate Master of Laws, LL.M, degree. After having already met the team during a student internship, I fully joined my current team as a contract officer in Bremen, Germany, in February 2016. I then took over propellant tank related proposals and negotiations, for example Eurostar Neo and JUICE, as well as other topics.

What is the most notable or memorable moment during your time working on European Service Module?

The most memorable moment was the physical delivery of European Service Module-2 and its transport on the Antonov aircraft from Bremen.

The funniest moment was when a colleague learned that she will fly to USA and see the first Artemis I launch.

What does it mean to you to be part of the larger team helping to get humans back on the Moon?

I love the upcoming Artemis Missions and I am really proud to be a little wheel in this complex mission that will bring us back to the moon.

What is one thing you’d like the European public to know about your job?

Though negotiating contracts in the space industry can be legally complex and is often really taxing, I like that in between all these technical discussions and negotiations of contractual terms, in the end, both parties aim to bring the mission behind the contract to flight.

Do you have any advice for future generations interested in space exploration?

When I was in kindergarten I either wanted to become an astro-physicist or a legal prosecutor. As a kid I never even imagined that I could sort of combine both and become a lawyer working in the space industry.

To all kids and young graduates out there: the whole world is open to you. As long as you follow your heart there is no such thing as failure, only adapting and learning to do it better next time.  Don’t stop grasping for your own stars until you find your own happy place where you perfectly fit in.